The Star. TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 1910. THE SPANISH PRETENDER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9915, 2 August 1910, Page 2

The Star. TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 1910. THE SPANISH PRETENDER.

The intervention of Don Jaime in the quarrel between the Spanish. Government and tho Vatican is not, after all, to have any very marked significance. During the troubles in Barcelona last year, he issued a manifesto to the Carlists in which he repudiated the idea that be might march into Spain some fine day with a conquering army. " I will never kindle civil war," he wrote; "if ever I return to Spain at the head of an army, it will be to restore order, not to disturb it." This very admirablo sentiment was warmly praised at the time, but the Carlists took it to mean that Don Jaime had given up any liopo of succeeding to the Spanish throne. To keep alive tho last lingering embers of Carlist sentiment, however, he suggested that the popularity of King Alfonso was waning, and that the war that' had been undertaken in Morocco would surely wear out the patience of the Loyalists. His idea was then that the march of events might lead to an invitation from the whole Spanish nation to him to return to his suffering country and save it from utter extinction. "When he addressed the Cortes tho other day on the subject of the quarrel with the Vatican, Don Jaime appeared to be anxious to ascertain what support a movement in his favour would be likely to gain. The response must have been disappointing, for now he has explained that he had no warlike intentions. He is still, is seems, counting on developments that will take him back to Spain without requiring him to fire a single shot. As a matter of fact, Carlism is in a bad way in these days. Don Carlos retired from the scene more than thirty years ago, and although his letters and manifestoes served to keep his memory alive, his cause steadily declined. .His son, Don Jaime, is little known. The history of Spain in the nineteenth century lends some support to the belief that tho people will tire of the monarchy in a little while, and Don Jaime is not the only student of Spanish affairs' who anticipates that the Republican movement will bo temporarily successful. But, on the other side, it has to be remembered that there are abundant signs that the people are tired of civil war and contention, and that if a revolt occurs itwill be directed loss against tho monarchy than against the corrupt and inefficient methods of government. In any case, there does not appear to be any encouragement for Don Jaime in the. situation. _ .